Doing your own hair toner at home is absolutely possible! Hair toners are a great way to neutralize brassy tones, enhance shine, and refresh color between salon visits. With the right products and techniques, you can achieve salon-quality results right in your own bathroom.
What is hair toner?
Hair toner is a demi-permanent hair coloring product that deposits translucent pigment onto the hair. This helps to neutralize or enhance the existing hair color. Toners are used after bleaching to help neutralize brassiness and after coloring to refresh faded color.
Toners come in a variety of shades from ash to beige to pearl. Choosing the right toner shade for your hair is important to avoid unwanted color results. For example, an ash toner helps neutralize warmth and brassiness in blonde hair. Beige adds warmth back. Pearl tones enhance shine.
Benefits of at-home hair toning
There are several benefits to doing your own hair toner at home:
- Cost savings – At-home hair toner kits are far less expensive than getting toner services done in the salon.
- Convenience – You can tone your hair on your own schedule at any time.
- Color refreshing – Toner helps keep hair color vibrant between salon visits.
- Brassiness control – Toner neutralizes unwanted warm/brassy undertones.
- Customization – You can pick the exact toner shade you want.
What you need to tone hair at home
Toning your hair at home is simple with just a few supplies. Here is what you’ll need:
- Hair toner – Look for an at-home hair toner kit or demi-permanent toner in your desired shade.
- Developer – This activates and oxidizes the hair color. 10 or 20 volume is usually recommended.
- Tint brush & bowl – To mix and apply the toner.
- Gloves – To protect your hands from staining.
- Shower cap – To allow toner to process.
- Conditioner – For final rinse to detangle and add shine.
Choosing the right hair toner
It’s important to choose the right toner for your hair color and concerns. Here are some top toner picks:
| For: | Try: |
|---|---|
| Blonde hair brassiness | Wella Color Charm T18 Lightest Ash Blonde Toner |
| Bleached hair brassiness | Schwarzkopf Igora Royal Toner 9.1 very Light Beige Blonde |
| Color-treated hair | Clairol Shimmer Lights Shampoo Blonde & Silver Toner |
| Brassy brunette hair | MATRIX Total Results So Silver Color Depositing Purple Shampoo |
How to use hair toner
Here are some step-by-step instructions for toning hair at home:
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Start with clean, dry hair – Don’t attempt to tone right after washing. Hair should be dry and product-free.
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Mix the toner – Combine toner and developer in a bowl at a 1:2 ratio. More developer will dilute the toner.
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Section your hair – Work in four sections for easy application.
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Apply toner – Use the tint brush to paint toner from roots to ends of each section.
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Process – Let the toner sit on hair for 5-20 minutes depending on toner strength.
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Rinse thoroughly – Rinse until water runs clear. Use cool water to preserve toning results.
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Condition – Apply a deep conditioner or mask for 5 minutes before rinsing again.
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Air dry – Let hair air dry to reveal full toner results. Avoid heat styling.
Toner application tips
To get the best results from at-home toning, follow these tips:
- Don’t shampoo for 24-48 hours before applying toner so natural oils protect hair.
- Always do a strand test to check toner results before applying to full head.
- Apply toner quickly from roots to ends to prevent uneven results.
- Leave on for the minimum recommend time and watch closely to avoid over-toning.
- Rinse thoroughly with cool water and use a good conditioner.
- Toners usually last 4-6 weeks. Tone again when brassiness reappears.
Can I use semi-permanent dye as toner?
You can use a semi-permanent hair dye as a toner, but there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Pick a semi-permanent dye within 1-2 shades of your natural or target color.
- Semi-permanent dyes tend to be more concentrated than toners.
- Dilute the color with conditioner – start with a 1:2 dye to conditioner ratio.
- Leave on for less time – 5 minutes max to avoid unwanted color deposit.
- Rinse very well – semi-permanent dye can continue to develop if left on hair.
The results will not be as precise as an actual toner. But in a pinch, diluted semi-permanent dye can tone down brassiness.
What happens if you leave toner on too long?
Leaving toner on for too long can lead to over-toned results. If toner is left on hair for too long:
- Color can become too dark or ash-toned.
- Warm undertones can become completely neutralized into an icy, unnatural shade.
- Lightened hair can absorb too much pigment and look darker.
- Hair may take on reddish, brassy tones from over-processing.
To avoid this, watch the clock and don’t go past the recommended processing time. Rinse immediately if you see the color becoming more intense than expected.
Fixing over-toned hair
If your hair gets too toned from leaving the product on too long, here are some fixes:
- Wash with a clarifying shampoo to remove excess toner.
- Use an anti-dandruff shampoo which has stronger surfactants to cut through toner.
- Try vitamin C powder – make a paste and leave on hair to gently strip color.
- Use a bleach bath to lift out the over-deposit of toner.
- Color over it with a semi-permanent shade closer to your natural.
Be very gentle and don’t over-process hair. Leave fixing treatments on for short periods of time only. Stay patient and you hair color will normalize.
How long does toner last?
On average, toner results will last 4-6 weeks. However, how long it lasts depends on several factors:
- Hair type – Dry, porous hair will hold toner longer than fine, oily hair.
- Shampooing – Frequent shampooing will fade toner faster.
- Heat styling – Heat tools speed up fading of toner.
- Sun exposure – UV rays cause toners to oxidize faster.
- Toner strength – Salon-quality toners last longer than drugstore options.
To make your toner last longer, use sulfate-free shampoos, limit heat styling, and add a color-protecting product. Also tone again as soon as you notice brassiness returning.
Does toner damage hair?
Hair toner is conditioning and does not damage hair when used correctly. The ingredients in toner such as EDTA, hydrogen peroxide, and phospholipids are much less aggressive than bleach. However, it’s still smart to be gentle with hair when toning.
To prevent toner damage:
- Avoid over-processing – Never leave toner on for longer than directions state.
- Use a low developer – 10 or 20 volume to gently deposit pigment.
- Rinse thoroughly – Remove all traces of toner so it doesn’t continue developing.
- Deep condition – Hydrate and nourish hair after rinsing out toner.
- Wait between applications – Don’t overload hair with excessive toner.
When used correctly on healthy hair, toner is safe for hair. But overusing toner or applying it to already damaged hair can cause more harm.
Signs of toner damage
Look for these signs that your hair may be getting damaged from toner:
- Dry, brittle texture
- Fragile strands prone to breakage
- Loss of elasticity
- Unintended color results like splotchiness
- Excessive shedding
If you notice these issues, take a break from toning and focus on deep conditioning treatments to strengthen hair.
Conclusion
With the right tools and techniques, you can achieve beautiful, professional looking results by toning your hair at home. Experiment with different toner shades to keep brassiness at bay and hair color looking its best between salon visits. Just be sure not to over-process, and give hair some extra TLC after toning to maintain healthy, shiny locks.